Hitching device.



L. S. DE FOREST.

HITCHING DEVICE.

APPLlcAnoN man luLY 2. m4.

'Patented Jan. 2,1917.

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LOUIS S. DE FOREST, OF NEIN HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

HITCI-IING DEVICE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented dan. 2, i917.

Application filed.y July 2,1914. Serial No. 848,671.

To all whom imag concer/n Be it known that I, Louis S. DE FOREST, residing at New I-Iaven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Irlitching Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in bitching means of that character in which the bitching line is made fast to the post and includes a snap or other like means for connecting with the bit ring.

In the use of the ordinary snap connection in bitching devices, the same is likely to come undone or be undone by children, and the horse may consequently get away.

My invention has for its object to provide a hitching means of the general character stated, in which the connection with the bit ring is of such shape and so connectible to the bit ring, that so long as the hitching line is made fast to the post, it is absolutely impossible to separate it from the bit ring.

With other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, my invention is in the nature of an improved hitching device that embodies the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter explained, specifically pointed out in the appended claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my hitching device, the same being in an operative condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view that illustrates the manner in which the device is attached to the bit ring. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of my hitching device. Fig. Ll is a detail view of a further modification hereinafter referred to.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the hitohing line with a fastening device of peculiar design and which is bent up, or otherwise formed, of a single piece of spring metal, preferably heavy spring Wire.

In the preferred form, as shown in Figs. l and 2, my improved fastening` device consists of a hook-like body formed by bending a single wire strand upon itself to produce a closed loop 22 and the opposite members held lapped against each other and bent to form a longitudinally curved long arm 20 that merges with a return bent portion curved in like shape with the arm 2O to form a short arm or member 2, the end of which terminates in a loop 2l, which, as

also the loop 22, extends flatwise and transversely of the respective arms 20 and 2, and to add riOidity to the said fastener' the said lapped strand portions of the arm portions 2O and 2 are corrugated, asvshown. l designates a flexible hitch line that is made .fast to the loop 21 of the short arm 2 and is adapted for being passed throughthe closedloop 22 on the lower end of the long arm 20. By reason of curving the two arms in like shape and direction, as shown and described, the longer arm 20 can be readily slipped through the bit ring 3, and since the two loops 22 and 2l extend in the same curved line of their respective arms, the hitch line, when drawn taut, tends to hold the fastener body flat-wise in a proper position in the bit ring and from flapping; or turning edgewise against the horses mouth. Again, by reason of making the loop 22 a closed loop, the fastener body may be readily used with a rope line, a flexible strap or band, or with a stiff strap, since the line when inserted through the loop 22 cannot work out of it during ordinary usage of the device.

Instead of making the body of the fastener of a wire doubled upon itself, as shown in Figs. l and 2, it may be a single stout wire strand bent upon itself to form the longand short arms of the fastener, the outer ends of which are transversely bent to form the loops 21 and 22. Again, instead of forming the fastener of wire, as shown in Figs. l and 3, it may be bent up from a. spring metal plate, as shown in Fig. l, with the ends of the long and short arms provided with transverse slots 23 and 24E.

By reason of the construction of the fastener, as described and shown, when hitching, it is only necessary to slip the long arm of the fastener through the bit ring 3 and then pass the hitch line through the loop 22 on the long arm before making the said hitch line fast to the post ring, it being readily apparent that with this fastener any tendency on the part of the horse to undo the hitch, serves to make a tighter closure of the ends of the long and short arms of the fastener upon each other. Furthermore, so long asl the hitch line is attached to the post, it will be absolutely impossible to disconnect the fastener from the bit ring.

My invention can be very cheaply made and readily applied to the bit ring, and as quickly removed therefrom When the hitch line is disconnected from the post.

By making the hook arms one longer than the other, the operation of entering the fastener through the bit ring and the passing of the hitch line through the loop of the longer arm is greatly facilitated.

lVhat I claim is:

As a new article, a hitching device that comprises a fastener consisting of a body portion formed from a single Wire strand bent upon itself midway its length and formed into a transversely closed loop, the two bent members being held lapped against each other, the lapped portions being curved and extended to form a long arm and then bent back upon the said longarm to form a short arm, the latter being curved in an are concentric With the curvature of the long arm, and held in close proximity to the said long arm, said long arm having its extremity formed with a closed transverse loop,

and a flexible hitching line secured in theV loop of the short arm and adapted to be passed through the loop of the long arm.

LOUS S. DE FOREST.

Witnesses:

FLORA B. SEARS, IDA F. WATERS.

Copies o f this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

